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Orlando Magic Top 25: The Nos. 21-25 best players in Orlando Magic history

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Nov 29, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) brings the ball down court during the first quarter of a basketball game against the Boston Celtics at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) brings the ball down court during the first quarter of a basketball game against the Boston Celtics at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic
Apr 25, 2012; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic power forward Ryan Anderson (33) attempts a three-point shot during the fourth quarter at Amway Center. Orlando defeated Charlotte, 102-95. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports /

24. Ryan Anderson (2010-12)

High/Low: 13/UR

By David Iwanowski

Once seen as a throw-in for a big swap of shooting guards between the Orlando Magic and New Jersey Nets, Ryan Anderson quickly became one of the most underrated players in the league.

By the time the coaching staff developed him and figured out how to use him properly, it was too late. Dwight Howard forced his way out and the Magic wanted to bottom out.

Anderson was seen as the ideal stretch-4 and a great complement to Dwight Howard. He allowed the team to play the four-out style that allowed them to achieve so much success just a couple of years earlier. Although he had some defensive limitations with rim protection and mobility (the latter of which is a bigger deal now, with more teams going with smaller and quicker “power forwards”), he had a few strengths that allowed him to be an incredibly effective player.

During the 2012 season (which saw his minutes rise from 22 to 32 per game), Anderson averaged 16.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and shot 39.3 percent from three with high volume. Those box score numbers were the main reason he won the Most Improved Player Award.

And when looking back, he is considered one of many examples of a player who was always good and won the award mostly due to increased role rather than huge improvement. Evidence of that is the fact that his per-36 numbers were similar through all three seasons, and when his minutes increased, his per-game numbers increased accordingly with little drop in efficiency.

In three seasons with the Magic, Anderson averaged a PER of 19.8, a Box Plus Minus of 3.8 and 18.4 Win Shares.

That 2012 season, his PER was 21.2, he had a 4.6 Box Plus Minus, and 8.9 Win Shares. As a comparison, Paul Millsap was named an all-star his first season with Atlanta with a 19.8 PER, 6.7 Win Shares, and a 3.1 Box Plus Minus. Blake Griffin finished his incredible 2014-2015 season with a 22.8 PER, 9 Win Shares, and a 4.1 Box Plus Minus.

His most underrated skill was his rebounding ability, specifically on the offensive end. Overall, his rebounding percentage was 13.8 and his offensive rebounding percentage was 11.5. Playing with another great rebounder in Dwight Howard likely inhibited his conversions on rebounding opportunities, especially on the defensive side.

In 2012, those numbers were 13.8 percent overall and 13 percent on offense. As a comparison, superstar DeMarcus Cousins has collected more than 13 percent of available offensive rebounding opportunities only once in his six-year career.

Anderson’s combination of offensive abilities and rebounding made him such an effective player, and playing next to Dwight Howard allowed him to thrive offensively and not be punished on the defensive end.

His overall effect was very large, and he likely would have been higher on this list if he had logged more years with the franchise.